Appliance controller system featuring automatic beverage dispenser shutoff system

Abstract

An appliance controller is provided featuring one or more modules configured for providing power to an appliance that receives fluid from a fluid supply system, for receiving a fluid supply system signal indicating that the fluid is not being provided to the appliance and for disconnecting the power to the appliance. The one or more modules may take the form of an appliance controller circuit having a first circuit part configured for providing power to an appliance that receives fluid from a fluid supply system; and a second circuit part configured for receiving a fluid supply system signal indicating that the fluid is not being provided to the appliance and disconnecting the power to the appliance. The appliance controller may form part of an appliance controller system having appliances, appliance controllers and the fluid supply system.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An appliance controller comprising:
 a first circuit part configured for providing power to an appliance dispensing system that receives fluid from a fluid supply system and dispenses the fluid; 
 a second circuit part configured for receiving from the fluid supply system a fluid supply system signal indicating that the fluid is not being provided to the appliance dispensing system, and for disconnecting the power to the appliance dispensing system based at least partly on the fluid supply system signal received, so that the appliance dispensing system will not continue to operate when the fluid being dispensed is no longer being provided; and 
 a third circuit part configured for daisy chaining the appliance controller circuit to another appliance controller circuit coupled to another appliance dispensing system. 
 
     
     
       2. An appliance controller according to  claim 1 , wherein the third circuit part is responsive to one fluid supply system signal and provides a daisy-chained fluid supply system signal to the another appliance controller. 
     
     
       3. An appliance controller according to  claim 1 , wherein the appliance controller circuit has a fourth circuit part that provides an alarm indicating that the appliance dispensing system has been disconnected. 
     
     
       4. An appliance controller system, comprising:
 a fluid supply system configured for providing fluid from a fluid supply to an appliance dispensing system, for sensing that the fluid supply is below a predetermined threshold and for providing a fluid supply system signal indicating that no fluid is being provided to the appliance dispensing system; and 
 an appliance controller having a first circuit part configured for providing power to the appliance dispensing system, having a second circuit part configured for receiving the fluid supply system signal and for disconnecting the power to the appliance dispensing system based at least partly on the fluid supply system signal received, so that the appliance dispensing system will not continue to operate when the fluid being dispensed is no longer being provided, and having a third circuit part configured for daisy chaining the appliance controller circuit to another appliance controller circuit coupled to another appliance dispensing system. 
 
     
     
       5. An appliance controller system according to  claim 4 , wherein the third circuit part is responsive to one fluid supply system signal and provides a daisy-chained fluid supply system signal to the another appliance controller. 
     
     
       6. An appliance controller system according to  claim 4 , wherein the appliance controller circuit has a fourth circuit part that provides an alarm indicating that the appliance dispensing system has been disconnected. 
     
     
       7. An appliance controller system according to  claim 4 , wherein the fluid supply system includes a sensor that responds to the fluid supply system being below the predetermined threshold and provides the fluid supply system signal. 
     
     
       8. An appliance controller system according to  claim 4 , wherein the appliance controller provides power to the appliance for turning the appliance dispensing system on and off. 
     
     
       9. An appliance controller system comprising:
 a fluid supply system configured for providing fluid from a fluid supply to an appliance dispensing system, for sensing that the fluid supply is below a predetermined threshold and for providing a fluid supply system signal indicating that no fluid is being provided to the appliance dispensing system; and 
 a plurality of appliance controllers, each appliance controller configured for responding to the fluid supply system signal and for disconnecting the power to the appliance dispensing system based at least partly on the fluid supply system signal received, so that the appliance dispensing system will not continue to operate when the fluid being dispensed is no longer being provided, each appliance controller being coupled to a respective appliance dispensing system. 
 
     
     
       10. An appliance controller system according to  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of appliance controllers are daisy chained together so that only one appliance controller is connected to the fluid dispensing system. 
     
     
       11. An appliance controller system according to  claim 10 , wherein the one appliance controller is responsive to one fluid supply system signal and provides a daisy-chained fluid supply system signal to a next appliance controller. 
     
     
       12. A method comprising:
 providing with a first circuit part power to an appliance dispensing system that receives fluid from a fluid supply system; 
 receiving with a second circuit part from the fluid supply system a fluid supply system signal indicating that the fluid is not being provided to the appliance dispensing system and disconnecting the power to the appliance dispensing system based at least partly on the fluid supply system signal received, so that the appliance dispensing system will not continue to operate when the fluid being dispensed is no longer being provided; and 
 daisy chaining with a third circuit part the appliance controller circuit to another appliance controller circuit coupled to another appliance dispensing system.